title: Exploring influencing factors of postoperative pain in school-age children undergoing elective surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the influencing factors of postoperative pain among children undergoing elective surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted in 2011 with a convenience sample of 66 children, 6 to 14 years old, in a tertiary hospital in Singapore.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children experienced moderate preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain. Gender, preoperative anxiety, and negative emotional behaviors were significant influencing factors for postoperative pain. Boys reported less postoperative pain than girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effective strategies for assessing and managing children's preoperative anxiety are needed to achieve an optimal postoperative pain management outcome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ying Jia Shermin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chieng
authors.forename: Wai Chi Sally
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Joanne Li Wee
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Liam
authors.forename: Piyanee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klainin-Yobas
authors.forename: Wenru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hong-Gu
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Anxiety; child; pain; postoperative; preoperative; surgery